Michael Kors opens first distribution center in Europe; to cover 1 million ft2

By

Dominique Muret

Published
May 25, 2015

Michael Kors is reorganizing its logistics in order to support its unstoppable expansion in Europe. The US luxury brand has announced the construction of its first distribution center on the continent. 

While it previously entrusted its deliveries to various distributors, from now on, it will centralize everything in a huge 1 million-ft2 warehouse in northern Europe. The pioneering distribution center will be set up in Trade Port North in Venlo, in the southwest of the Netherlands, on the border with Germany and Duisburg.

"The new European Distribution Center (EDC) will service all of the luxury fashion brand’s European and Middle Eastern retail, wholesale and, eventually, e-commerce needs," said the fashion house, which saw its sales jump by 86.3% (29.9% on a comparable basis) in Europe in the third quarter of its 2014-15 financial year, reaching 241.4 million dollars (210 million euros). The region now represents nearly 20% of Michael Kors’ global sales. 

The center has been designed to meet the needs generated by the brand's growth over the next 10 years and should lead to the creation of approximately 400 jobs in the province of Limburg. The construction of the eco-sustainable building is set to begin next month. The project has been entrusted to the Dutch agency Denc. 

"The scale and sophistication of the facility reflect our commitment to substantial growth across all channels of distribution in both Europe and the Middle East," said CEO John D. Idol, referring to an "important and exciting step in the evolution of Michael Kors.”